North Bay Community Church has more than just a testimony of faith. They recently shared a testimonial on Google about the great experience they had working with Surveillance Tech, Inc. Located on a major thoroughfare in a bustling area of Countryside, in addition to the sanctuary, the church campus includes a building which houses an office, several classrooms, and a multi-purpose room. Church leaders recently reached out to Surveillance Tech (STI) as they considered church surveillance solutions for their property.
After a thoughtful review of the congregation’s needs and the ways they use their property, STI put a 16 channel H.265 4K NVR in the administrative building, along with nine dual light 4K turret style cameras. These cameras cover the common areas, hallways, and classrooms, as well as all points of entry from the interior. An ColorMax camera with motorized zoom and varifocal lens was installed on an exterior corner of the building to provide a tighter shot on the parking area. STI placed an Ultra ColorMax camera with deterrent features on the rear walkway of the property. This area has been a cause of concern, due to foot traffic from nearby businesses unrelated to the church. Deterrent functions on this camera include human detection during programmed hours, which will trigger flashing red and blue lights, recorded audio messages of the client’s choosing, and two-way audio to communicate with unexpected visitors. Monitoring pedestrian activity is one way to protect the church’s members and property.
In the main building, which is adorned with stunning stained glass windows and serves as a warm and welcoming gathering place, Surveillance Tech placed another 16 channel 4K NVR. An Ultra ColorMax camera oversees the covered entrance where visitors are dropped off at the front of the church. Another Ultra ColorMax with active deterrent capabilities sits over the main entrance door to the sanctuary. If there is any activity near the church entrance after hours, leaders will be notified in real time.
Five 4K dual light turret-style cameras capture broad views of the sanctuary, main lobby, and primary hallway. While these cameras still offer basic AI features, they have different microchips than the exterior cameras, making them a more economical choice. Surveillance Tech can offer insight on how to choose the right video surveillance system for your business or organization. For example, these cameras only have one-way audio, not two-way, and are not equipped with the active deterrent features. Nonetheless, they are often still a great choice for inside surveillance, at a lower price than the Ultra ColorMax equipment monitoring the outside.
All churches must strike a balance, creating a welcoming and accessible church home to all in need, while maintaining a safe, secure environment for their congregation. The line between discouraging criminal activity and encouraging visitation is thin, particularly for places of worship. Robust and active surveillance can be an ideal solution to keeping a discreet but watchful eye on all that transpires on your property, without crossing over into exclusionary design.
